Gators best LSU in CWS Final rematch, 4-3

HOOVER, Ala. — LSU manager Paul Mainieri thought Jake Slaughter had just put the Tigers ahead. The sophomore third baseman laced a ball down the third base line in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and two runners in scoring position in a 4-3 game. The SEC Player of the Year had other plans.

Running on pure instinct and reactions India took one step and dove to his right, the ball taking a quick skip into his glove India got up and fired a frozen rope across the diamond to get Slaughter and keep the Gators lead at 4-3, holding on to the win in a rematch of the College World Series Final.

The play was a bright spot on an otherwise dreadful defensive game for the Gators. Second baseman Blake Reese made two throwing errors in the first two innings and was pulled before Florida came back out to the field in the third. LSU was able to capitalize on both of Reese’s errors.

Reese’s fielded a ground ball from Beau Jordan in the top of the second but his throw made Brady Smith come off the bag. Mace hung a 0-1 curveball to Slaughter and the third baseman deposited it over the left field wall to give LSU a 2-0 lead. In the third Reese completely airmailed a throw to first after ranging to his left to allow Antoine Duplantis to reach base. Duplantis stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a single. Mace had given up three runs, just one earned, on only two hits but wouldn’t blame the guys behind him.

“I make errors pitching all the time,” he said after the game. “I just had to stay focused and get my guy’s backs.”

Florida cut back into the lead in its half of the third. Nick Horvath singled up the middle and freshman catcher Cal Greenfield walked. Deacon Liput drove a fastball in the left center gap to plate Horvath and set up his team with two runners in scoring position. Greenfield would score on a Nelson Maldonado ground out to second and India drove Liput home with a single of his own to tie the game.

Mace settled in and didn’t allow another hit until the seventh inning, throwing up zero after zero in his second consecutive great start.

Florida took the lead in the fifth inning when Austin Langworthy’s two-out single scored India and Florida would hold on in the eighth, thanks’ to India’s golden glove at third, and a bounce back performance from Michael Byrne.

The Gators will play the winner of South Carolina and Arkansas on Wednesday night. It will be the last of the four games tomorrow, so expect a late night at the Met.

A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

Since 1997 Gator Country's been the most trusted authority on all Florida Gators sports. Join the most active Gators forums and get the real inside scoop on Florida football, recruiting, basketball, baseball and all University of Florida athletics!